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TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Japan's newly appointed Finance Minister Naoto Kan sent his nation's currency significantly lower against its U.S. counterpart Thursday, as he used his inaugural press conference to talk down the yen. Kan said many Japanese companies are in favor of the dollar trading around 95.00 yen, and that he will work with the Bank of Japan to get the currency to "appropriate" levels. The dollar spiked to 92.63 yen, from 92.15 yen before Kan spoke. It is unusual for Japanese ministers to make comments on specific foreign-exchange levels. The currency market trend "has been corrected a lot toward...

It's sleek, it's fast, and it's reinforced with a ton of bullet-proof Kevlar armour. The mean-looking Ady Gil is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's newest weapon in their ongoing battle against Japanese whalers. The trimaran - previously known as Earthrace - recently set the world powerboat record for circumnavigation.

A conservation group's boat had its bow sheared off and was in danger of sinking as it took on water Wednesday after it was struck by a Japanese whaling ship in the frigid waters of Antarctica, the group said. The boat's six crew members were safely transferred to another of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's vessels, the newly commissioned Bob Barker. The boat is named for the American game show host who donated $5 million to buy it. The clash was the most serious in the past several years, during which the Sea Shepherd has sent vessels into far-southern waters...

ANTI-whaling group Sea Shepherd have confirmed one of their protest ships was sunk by Japanese whalers. The Ady Gil, a lightweight 24m (79-foot) boat went under after being rammed off Antarctica by Shonam Maru, a ship detailed to provide security to the rest of the whaling fleet. All six crew members have been rescued.

BRUSSELS -- China took over the mantle of the world's top merchandise exporter from Germany in 2009, according to the latest figures, aided by a global economic crisis that has taken a greater toll on other trading powers. China exported $957 billion of goods in the first 10 months of 2009, compared with $917 billion for Germany, according to customs data compiled by Global Trade Information Services, a Geneva-based firm. China in 2007 overtook Germany as the world's third-largest national economy, and is on track to soon surpass Japan to become the second-largest economy after the U.S. "China has been...

Double Atomic bomb survivor dies in Japan By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer 22 mins ago TOKYO – Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only person officially recognized as a survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings at the end of World War II, has died at age 93. Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip for his shipbuilding company on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki, about 300...

Global Stocks Bear Market Rally Will End With Japan As Hyperinflation Rips Economy To Pieces Stock-Markets / Global Debt Crisis Jan 05, 2010 - 04:34 AM By: John Mauldin Let me welcome you to a new year of Outside the Box. I doubt we will have trouble finding interesting commentary this year, as there are many things that could happen that demand our attention. We start with a short column by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard of the London Telegraph giving us a quick run down of the problems faced around the globe. He thinks the #1 problem is Japan, and I more...

By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer – 31 mins ago TOKYO – Japan's prime minister said Monday he will press for more equal ties with Washington this year, the 50th anniversary of a joint security treaty that grants many special privileges to U.S. troops stationed in the country. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, in a New Year's speech shown live on national television, said he hopes the alliance will evolve to become more open and candid. It is important "for both sides to be able to firmly say what needs to be said, and to increase...

School children from Chaghcharan district in Ghowr province participate in an award ceremony supported by ISAF forces Dec. 29 (Photo courtesy of ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan) NEWS RELEASEISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2010-01-CA–006 For Immediate Release CHAGCHARAN, Afghanistan (Jan. 2) – About 500 school children from Chaghcharan district in Ghowr province participated in an award ceremony supported by ISAF forces Dec. 29. The head of the provincial education department, local authorities and the chief of staff of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team there attended the event. "The local government put a lot of effort into facilitating education for the people...

Kyle Bass Betting Big On A Collapse Of The Japanese Bond Market Joe Weisenthal | Dec. 31, 2009, 7:11 AM | 1,757 | 3 Tags: Investing, Hedge Funds, Debt, Japan One of the oldest, most popular bets -- that the Japanese government would collapse under the weight of its debt -- has a fresh round of adherents who believe that this time it's going to work out. Among them: Hayman Capital manager Kyle Bass, who made a fortune shorting subprime. He tells the Journal a Japanese bond market collapse is merely a matter of when, not if.

OH HELLS YEAH

The United States is considering allowing Japan to take part in a multinational project to develop the F-35 next-generation stealth fighter, a press report said Tuesday. Washington may allow Tokyo to participate in the project even without assurances from Japan that it will procure the F-35, Kyodo News reported, quoting sources from both governments. The move is intended to clear the way for Japan to introduce the F-35 as its future mainstay fighter as countries not participating in the joint development would not be allowed to acquire it at an early date, Kyodo said. Tokyo's participation would be limited to...

Scientists breed see-through goldfish with visible heart, brain, organs: report BY NICOLE CARTER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Wednesday, December 30th 2009, 2:43 PM A photo released by Mie University shows the see-through 'ryukin' goldfish, whose beating heart can be seen through translucent scales and skin. A see-through goldfish created by Japanese scientists may be a humane alternative to dissection, as well as a unique pet, the London Daily Mail reports. The new transparent breed of fish, whose heart, brain and other organs are visible through its scales and skin, is the first of its kind, according to the Mail. "You...

Yukio Hatoyama, the new Japanese Prime Minister, has stunned a nation already mired in huge public debt by unveiling the country’s biggest ever postwar budget: a 92.3 trillion yen (£630 billion) spending spree aimed at “saving people’s lives”. The unprecedented budget, which supposedly shifts Japan’s fiscal spending focus “from concrete to lives”, comes amid rising concern about the solidity of sovereign debt in the world’s second-largest economy. The new budget will require additional debt issuance of Y44.3 trillion — within the Government’s expected band, but still at a level that will raise Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio to nearly 195 per cent....

Lawmakers and U.S. automakers are peeved with Japan, which has launched a cash-for-clunkers program that doesn’t accept American-made cars. Under Japan’s program, consumers who trade in a car at least 13 years old can get a tax cut of up to $2,800 toward the purchase of a new car. But the program excludes imported vehicles from companies that have low sales in Japan. That covers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, according to the American Automotive Policy Council, which has pressed the Obama administration for action. U.S. producers are particularly irked since Japanese companies did well under the cash-for-clunkers program Congress...

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Two minesweepers that arrived here on temporary rotation last summer will make a permanent home in Sasebo, the U.S. Navy announced Wednesday. The USS Avenger and USS Defender, both from San Diego, will remain here after a review found it would be better to keep the two minesweepers in Sasebo rather than regularly rotate ships in from the United States, the Navy said. Both ships had been in Sasebo for about six months and will join the base’s two other forward-deployed mine ships, the USS Patriot and the USS Guardian. The change was not due...

CHIBA — Police on Friday arrested a truck driver Friday on suspicion of property damage after he allegedly urinated on a towel at the entrance of the apartment belonging to a woman he liked. Police said that 22-year-old Yuuki Oshima, a resident of Noda Cioty, visited the woman’s apartment after midnight on Nov 19 and urinated through the mail slot in the door onto a towel that was hung inside to keep people from peeping into the apartment. Police said Oshima admits to the charges, and quoted him as saying, “I absolutely went crazy for her the first time I...

Todd Crowell Japan’s Covert Moves to Save The Endangered Tomahawk To listen to disarmament specialists, the country that is raising the most serious obstacles to new moves to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in defense strategy is Japan. Japan? Is this not the nation with the famous nuclear allergy? Is it not the nation that loudly reminds everyone that it is the only country on the globe to suffer an atomic attack? Is it not the country that loudly proclaims the “Three Noes” (Never to manufacture, possess or allow nuclear weapons onto its soil)? No country is more vocal...

<p>Masamune Date is not an obvious heart-throb for today’s young Japanese women. He has an aristocratic lineage and love of the arts — but he is also a one-eyed ruthless killer. He lost an eye to smallpox and in his relentless pursuit of power is said to have slaughtered his own brother, as well as Christian missionaries, Korean peasants and countless of his compatriots.</p>

Japan's Crown Princess Masako has said she will keep working to fight her stress problems. The 46-year-old royal - who is married to Crown Prince Naruhito - said she has been working with medical professionals to solve her illness.

A Chinese national who is believed to have manipulated her fingerprints to slip past Japan's fingerprint identification system has been arrested for violating the Immigration Control Law, the Metropolitan Police Department's Organized Crime Control Bureau announced on Monday.

Nikkei Falls 1.1% As Yen, Credit Worries WeighBy Aiko Hayashi Wed Dec 9, 2009 11:44pm * Credit woes in Dubai, Greece weigh on confidence - analyst * Sharp rebound rally may have come to an end - analyst * Suzuki down after Volkswagen deal announcement TOKYO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1.1 percent on Thursday after a recent sharp rebound, as credit troubles overseas weighed on investor confidence and a stronger yen pressured shares of exporters. Suzuki Motor (7269.T) skidded nearly 5 percent, erasing the gain logged Wednesday on hopes for an alliance agreement with Volkswagen, after...

U.S. puts off meetings on broader ties / PM's inaction on Futenma issue blamed The Yomiuri Shimbun The U.S. government, reacting to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's procrastination over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, has informed Tokyo it will postpone key bilateral consultations aimed at "deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance," government sources said Tuesday. The previously agreed consultations were suggested by Hatoyama in summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama when he visited Tokyo last month. Expectations on the part of the Japanese government were to see the consultations start before the end of...

Introductory Remarks: On December 7, 1941, U.S. military installations at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii were attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Could this tragic event that resulted in over 3,000 Americans killed and injured in a single two-hour attack have been averted? After 16 years of uncovering documents through the Freedom of Information Act, journalist and historian Robert Stinnett charges in his book, Day of Deceit, that U.S. government leaders at the highest level not only knew that a Japanese attack was imminent, but that they had deliberately engaged in policies intended to provoke the attack, in order to draw...

Japan Bets $81B On Plan To Avoid “Double-Dip Recession” By Rocky Vega 12/08/09 Stockholm, Sweden – Today Japan decided on spending 7.2 trillion yen, or $81 billion, in stimulus. The funds will be used for loan guarantees and employment subsidies as well as to encourage purchases of energy-efficient goods. However, according to Bloomberg coverage: “Not everyone thinks the spending will help the economy. Morgan Stanley Asia Chairman Stephen Roach said Hatoyama needed to be ‘much more aggressive’ with his policies. “‘It’s tiny,’ Roach said of the stimulus in an interview on Bloomberg Television yesterday. ‘This is an economy that went...

Here is video of Sean Hannity's interview with former Vice-President Dick Cheney that aired tonight. More of the interview with be aired on the Hannity show tomorrow night. Cheney hailed "American Exceptionalism," and hammered Obama for "going around the world bowing" to world leaders and "apologizing profusely for the United States." . . . (VIDEO)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government agreed on a $81 billion stimulus package on Tuesday, aimed at preventing the economy from tipping back into recession as deflation persists and a strong yen threatens exports. Economists said the 7.2 trillion yen plan, equal to about 1.5 percent of gross domestic product, would not provide a significant lift to an economy dependent on overseas demand for machinery, electronics and cars. While several other economies are already debating phasing out economic stimulus deployed to fight the financial crisis, Japan continues to struggle amid chronically weak consumer demand and falling prices. The budget underscores the...

OSAKA (Kyodo) – Suntory Holdings Ltd. acquired a U.S. PepsiCo Inc. unit Friday, company officials said, for an estimated ¥10 billion. Suntory’s acquisition of Conway-Myrtle Beach Inc., a franchise bottler based in South Carolina, comes as Suntory is holding merger talks with Kirin Holdings Co. that would create one of the world’s largest beverage and food firms. Suntory, which has the exclusive sales rights to PepsiCo products in Japan, bought the assets and exclusive marketing rights from Conway-Myrtle Beach through a joint venture with PepsiCo. The firm buys ingredients from PepsiCo and sells the products in South Carolina. The...

Major "Chuck" Sweeney had an extremely risky takeoff before dawn, loaded as he was with the 4.5-ton A-bomb, "Fat Man". Now they were over their primary target, Kokura. He had made three runs over the hopelessly clouded city when he made a shocking discovery: the auxiliary gasoline pipe was blocked. Unless they dropped the bomb soon, they would never get home. He turned his plane southwest for the secondary target, "Nagasaki, urban area". His B-29 was over Shimabara just before 11 A.M. A radio announcer saw this and excitedly broadcast a warning, and Nagasaki people who heard him ran for...

Fears Mount Over Japan's $100 Billion Treasury Sell Off Vince VenezianiDec. 4, 2009, 3:39 PM Japan denies it, but rumors persist that the country may dump Treasuries. Bloomberg continues to fan the flames. Bloomberg: Speculation that the Japanese government plans to sell $100 billion of U.S. Treasury debt to pay for domestic spending may impede the Obama administration’s borrowing plans. Japan has been this year’s biggest buyer of Treasuries, which means it has done more to help finance the widening U.S. budget deficit than any other country. Its holdings have risen by $125.5 billion, according to data compiled by the...

Nikkei Slips 0.4% After Breaking Above 10,000 Thu Dec 3, 2009 8:23pm ESTBy Aiko Hayashi TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average slipped 0.4 percent on Friday after briefly going above 10,000 for the first time in five weeks, as exporters such as Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) took a breather after sharp gains. Takefuji Corp (8564.T) tumbled more than 8 percent after the Asahi newspaper reported that the struggling consumer finance firm has significantly scaled back lending to preserve cash as it faces difficulty raising funds. "A short-cover rally, which was supported by foreign investors who were relieved to...

This morning, this message popped up on Bloomberg: "MARKET NEWS SAYS 'RUMORS' ARE JAPAN MAY TELL OF PLANNED SALE" Said sale in question is rumored to be a U.S. Treasury sell off by the Japanese government. Adding fuel to the fire is the U.S. and the Federal Reserve. Today, the Fed conducted a reverse repo (repurchase) test that could help with the Japanese UST sale. On the other hand, this wouldn't seem to jibe with reports that the country's main concern is the rising yen. If anything, you'd think they'd be snapping up more treasuries. So something is amiss. The...

Japan's leader apologizes for donation scandal PROBE DOGS PRIME MINISTER Family linked to fake campaign contributions By Blaine Harden Tuesday, December 1, 2009 TOKYO -- For politicians in Japan, the road to scandal usually winds through construction companies, defense contractors or a mistress. For newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, the road leads to his mother, an octogenarian heiress. Prosecutors have traced about $10.4 million that Yasuko Hatoyama, 87, gave to her son over a five-year period ending in 2008, sources in the investigation have told major news outlets in Japan. Some of that money was reportedly funneled into fake...

The Nikkei Explodes 3.8% Higher Joe WeisenthalDec. 3, 2009, 4:57 AM Forget that the Yen is sitting at a 14-year high, or that the country remains a gigantic mess. Buyers went nuts in Japan last night. WSJ: Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up 3.8%, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3%, South Korea's Kospi Composite gained 1.5% and New Zealand's NZX-50 finished 0.1% higher. Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended up 1.2%, while China's Shanghai Composite fell 0.2% and Taiwan's main index edged up 0.1%. In foreign exchange markets, the U.S. dollar remained supported against the yen on speculation Japanese authorities may step in...

Japan has successfully launched another optical (picture taking) spy satellite. This one joins two other optical birds and one radar satellite. This most recent satellite launch cost $109 million. The satellite cost quite a bit more. In early 2007, Japan lost the use of one of its two radar satellites. The "No. 1 radar satellite", which went into orbit in March 2003, was supposed to last for five years. But the bird has been having electrical problems, and had to be written off. Nearly three years ago, Japan launched its fourth spy satellite into orbit, using a Japanese made rocket....

Japan has grounded all of its F-15J fighters until it can figure out what exactly caused one of its F-15s to shed several parts during a recent air show. Seven pieces fell off the aircraft as it made a sharp turn.. This sort of thing makes Japan even more eager to find a modern fighter to replace its 118 F-4 and 202 F-15 aircraft. With China and Russia putting more new fighters into service, Japan sees a threat. Japan has made several efforts to buy the U.S. F-22, without success. The United States does not want to export its premier...

Recently Jim Robinson posted two threads declaring Free Republic’s determination to see Conservatives elected and ousting Rino's from government. Jim and a great many Freepers believe that we need to take back control. But the RNC is not hearing us. Activism is called for NOW. 2010 is nearing and we need Conservative candidates to run. The time is ripe and people are ready for another 1994 type election. But we need to make the RNC hear us loud and clear. This is the Rino Free America Project. Get involved. Make them listen. Write a letter and MAIL it. Republican...

CHRISTMAS IN JAPAN can be a little lonely and isolated for the Westerner here. What with the distance from “home” and cultural differences. Little things, here and there. Missing some of the usual things from back home, especially for people like one particular 'American in Tokyo'. This year 2009 is again no different. However, in many respects I must say there is nevertheless one little thing that is so refreshing about being stuck in Japan during Christmas—after a few years—and for the occasions one cannot make it back "home". It is almost like the clock has been refreshingly and...

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- An aquaculture company in Japan says it raised 50,000 fogu, or puffer fish, that are non-poisonous when consumed. The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday while scientists have created a safe version of the potentially deadly culinary delicacy, at least one chef in Japan remains dedicated to the art of carefully preparing puffer fish for customers. Shinichi Ueshima, chef of the Dote fugu restaurant in Yokohama, Japan, said the thrill associated with eating puffer fish is part of the animal's allure. "It's a very tasty fish, but that's not the only reason people choose to go...

Japan's Hirano: expects PM, BOJ gov to discuss QE By: AFX | 29 Nov 2009 | 09:47 PM ET Text Size TOKYO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesman said on Monday that he expects Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa to discuss whether the central bank is considering quantitative easing.

World powers united in condemnation of Iran's nuclear activities yesterday in a rare show of international consensus on the threat posed by Tehran's continued nuclear defiance. China and Russia joined the United States, Britain, France and Germany in backing an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution censuring Iran and ordering it to halt construction of a secret uranium enrichment plant. The resolution, the first since February 2006, passed with 25 votes and six abstentions. Only Malaysia, Venezuela and Cuba supported Iran. ...China, which has shared Moscow's reluctance to take a hard line with Tehran, was reportedly persuaded to support the resolution...

This is an older video, by a couple years but it is amazing to watch. The experiment pits Japanese researchers vs chimps in a memory experiment.

The Japanese ministry of defence has selected the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning-II as its next mainstay fighter jet but will sign a contract for 40 of these 'high-tech' fighters only in 2011, in order to ensure that the much-talked about stealth jet actually delivers on its performance parameters. Japanese agency reports say the defence ministry will seek fiscal allocation only in the 2011 budget for the purchase of 40 of these advanced 'stealth' fighter jets. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth, multirole fighter that, currently, is estimated to cost 9 yen billion ($101 million)...

Venomous redback spiders are on the march in Japan, where they are believed to have arrived years ago as stowaways on cargo ships, a wildlife expert has warned. The creepy-crawlies, named after their fiery markings, have infested the Osaka region and are drawing closer to the capital Tokyo, said Japan Wildlife Research Centre official Toshio Kishimoto. A dozen people have reportedly been bitten in Osaka prefecture alone, media reports say, including a six-year-old boy who was treated with antivenom in June, the first time the medication had been used in the country. "Their poison is strong and they are particularly...

OSAKA (Kyodo) The Osaka Prefectural Government has come up with a plan that calls for scrapping Osaka airport at Itami in 2035 when maglev trains are scheduled to start running between Tokyo and Osaka, officials said Thursday. The blueprint proposes using the site to build an international academic town for intensive English-language study with a population of 20,000. The plan also envisages selling the airport site and using the proceeds to build a new maglev line linking downtown Osaka with Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay. The prefecture expects the plan to accelerate the flow of travelers to Kansai airport...

Obama hits a rough spot Published: 25/11/2009 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: News President Barack Obama of the United States has hit the one-year political wall hard, and it especially showed during his recent trip to Asia. In the year since Mr Obama was elected, both the excitement of the polls and the expectations have worn off. As with all democratic leaders, election hullabaloo has been replaced by reality. Not all promises can be achieved quickly, or in the way they were presented in a free-wheeling election. In some ways, Mr Obama has been brought down to Earth, and his...

Everywhere Obama traveled during the thousands miles covered by him and his entourage across Asia, the U.S. President was rebuffed by the leaders of every country he visited. The trip resulted in no palatable results. They smiled nicely at him and then showed him their backs.

Japan is considering buying around 40 F-35 fighter jets as the future mainstay of the nation's air force, it was reported Monday. Japan has officially been pacifist since World War II but has been gradually expanding the role of its military, in part due to concern over nuclear-armed North Korea and China's continued military growth. The defence ministry will likely seek funds in the fiscal 2011 budget for the fighters, Kyodo said citing unnamed sources. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), being developed by the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries, is estimated to cost about nine billion yen...

If you have been following what America's right-wing bloggers and radio talk-show hosts have been saying about President Barack Obama's just-concluded trip to the Asia-Pacific, you would be under the impression that Obama was not treated by officials in that region as the leader of the world's only remaining superpower and the largest and most advanced economy....

Former Vice President Dick Cheney gave an interview to conservative talk radio host Scott Hennen today, in which he slammed President Obama's "fundamentally harmful" bow to the Japanese Emperor during his trip to Asia. In the interview, Cheney says that when the President bows to a foreign leader, "our friends and allies don't expect it and our adversaries perceive it as a sign of weakness." "I think it's fundamentally harmful and it shows in my mind that this is a guy, a president, who would bow, for example, who doesn't fully understand or have the same perception of the U.S....